NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD CHARTER

The scope of the Science Advisory Board is being expanded to assist the two departments in achieving and
maintaining clean air, water and land, as these are critical to the quality of life for all North Carolinians. A clean
environment is necessary to protect the public health as well as to promote a vibrant economy.

Preamble

Whereas, effective control of the exposure to contaminants in soil, groundwater, surface water,
sediment and air is essential to ensure adequate protection of human health and the environment; and

Whereas, numerous chemicals deemed to be toxic are released into the environment; and

Whereas, ongoing and future toxicological studies mightdemonstrate the need for a change in the
necessary level of control for some contaminants; and

Whereas, additional toxic contaminants may be introduced into the environment or discovered to
be released;

Now, Therefore, it is necessary to create a standing science advisory board to study the toxicological
effects of contaminants and to advise the Environmental Management Commission (herein referred to as
as to the necessary level of control of those contaminants for protection of human health and the
environment.

Section 1. Establishment

We hereby establish the Secretaries' Science Advisory Board (herein referred to as the "Board")
within the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (herein referred to as and the
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (herein referred to as The Board
shall be composed of eleven voting members appointed by the DEQ and DHHS Secretaries (herein
referred to as the ?Secretaries?). Members will serve at the pleasure of the Secretaries and may be re-
appointed by the Secretaries. The Secretaries shall designate one member as Chair. The members
appointed by the Secretaries will represent academic institutions, the public and private sectors, and
independent research facilities. The eleven members of the Board shall include at least two doctoral
level toxicologists, one doctoral level epidemiologist, and one board-certi?ed physician. Board
membership will be subject to the following, additional specifications:

(1) A minimum of one doctoral level epidemiologist, preferably a public health
scientist, or environmental scientist with strong background in environmental
epidemiology.

(2) A minimum of one doctoral level toxicologist, public health scientist, or environmental
scientist in the private sector who has at least ?ve years of experience in risk assessment or

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species impact.
(3) The State Epidemiologist or the State Health Director within DHHS.

(4) At least one doctoral level toxicologist or epidemiologist who is employed by either state or
federal government and has at least five years of experience in risk assessment.

(5) A minimum of one doctoral level scientist having a minimum of five years of experience
in exposure assessment to air contaminants.

(6) A minimum of one doctoral level scientist having a minimum of ?ve years of experience
in exposure assessment to water contaminants.

(7) A minimum of one licensed medical doctor, preferably with board certification in
occupational or environmental medicine.

(8) A representative from the North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors that serves as
a health director with relevant experience in environmental health/epidemiology.

Section II. Functions

(1) The Board shall meet at least six times per year and as called by the Secretaries or by the Board
Chair.

(2) The Board shall have the following duties related to DEQ and DHHS:

To perform or recommend reviews and/or evaluations of matters concerning the release of
contaminants into the environment that are placed on the Board agenda by DEQ or DHHS.

To advise EMC on information concerning the regulation and evaluation of releases of
contaminants that come to the attention of the Board.

To review the effects of chemicals that are proposed to be regulated by DEQ as contaminants
and to recommend the necessity and/or urgency for controlling the releases of such
chemicals that are found to cause deleterious environmental and human health effects with
priority given to the study of contaminants for which control has been deferred pending further
study.

To act as consultants regarding determinations to regulate releases of contaminants
and in determining factors for establishing acceptable levels for contaminants and for
remediation levels for contaminants in other media.

To recommend concentrations of contaminants in a "range of risks" to DEQ and EMC for
regulation that will minimize adverse health responses in the exposed citizenry and to advise the
EMC of the scienti?c basis for these recommendations.

In making those recommendations, the Board shall consider:

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 Whether factors have been appropriately applied in a media speci?c concentration
recommendation for a speci?c chemical.

(ii) Whether chemical agents that have adverse reproductive and/or developmental
effects should be treated with risk assessment values.

synergistic health effects of mixtures of contaminants should be
considered.

(iv) Whether and how concentrations of contaminants should be adjusted when there are
multiple sources of the same contaminant in a localized area.

How uncertainties in the risk assessment process can be incorporated into
development and/or revision of concentrations of contaminants.

To assist the Secretaries in providing expertise to evaluate the human and environmental
impact of exposure to hazardous contaminants as part of a task force that may be formed to
investigate the multimedia (air, water, and soil) impacts of those contaminants.

To consider the establishment of concentrations for contaminants to be recommended for
the establishment of standards in cases where well-designed human studies and/or data
regarding mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics or species? differences
a a not to have been taken into account.

To provide input to DHHS as the agency establishes health goals.

To assist DEQ and DHHS in identifying contaminants of emerging concern and assist in
determining whether the contaminants warrant further evaluation.

Section Administration

(1) In support of the Board, Assistant Secretary for Environment and Deputy
Secretary for Health Services will jointly provide oversight and direction to the Board and will
serve as the Liaisons of the Board. Technical support will be provided by members of the
Division of Air Quality, the Division of Water Resources and the Division of Waste
Management within DEQ and by members of the staff of the Division of Public Health within
DHHS. Communications between the two Departments and the Board shall be through the
Liaisons.

(2) Members of the Board will be reimbursed for necessary travel and subsistence expenses as
authorized by North Carolina General Statute Section 138-5, and those expenses will be
equitably distributed to both DHHS and DEQ.

Section IV. Implementation and Duration

(1) The Science Advisory Board shall be effective immediately.

(2) This Board shall continue for an inde?nite period at the pleasure of the Secretaries.

 
    

 

Mandyl?K. Cohen, MD, MPH Date Michael S. Regan
Secretary Secretary
Department of Health and Human Services Department of Environmental Quality